Just recently, Asian students and an Ivy-league school figured in a controversy regarding the perceived bias and alleged discrimination. The case is based on the allegation that the school discriminates against Asian university students. According to the complaint filed by more than 60 Asian- American groups, the university is not fair in dealing with student applicants. They further argued that Asian-American students should get a SAT score that’s 140 points higher than their white counterparts. The controversy has attracted its own share of attention, and has placed some universities and Asian students in a negative light. But before this news even broke out, Asian-American students and US universities were known to complement each other. In the last few years, it has been noted that Asian and Asian-American students were considered the best in their batches, out-performing their counterparts in academics. So what makes them better in school and in academics? Here are some reasons that can partly explain the dominance of these students in an academic setting.

Asian culture and philosophies put a premium on education

The great thing about many Asian families is that they put a premium on education. This can be seen in their traditions and philosophies like Confucianism. For more than 2,500 years, Confucianism has served as a guide and inspiration for millions of Asians, Chinese included. One of the founding principles of Confucianism is the need to promote educational goals for all members of the family. The philosophy encourages the need for education, and that the way to glory is through a hard-earned education.

Students are known to be hardworking

When they are still staying with their families in their home countries, these students often rely on the wisdom and the work of their parents. Some cultures even promote the idea of extended families, thus allowing for teens to stay with their parents for a long period of time. But when they make the move and migrate to the US, they learn to live independently, and take care of their personal needs and requirements. These students live alone and decide for themselves. When it comes to food and housing, they are left alone to decide.

This is the reason why many students become wise in their food choices, from easy-to-make sandwiches with spreads like hummus to fast food when necessary. And if they feel that their body needs attention, they are often empowered. For example, when attending to health concerns like acne, they tend to explore options, from topical medications to apple cider vinegar. Although their means are limited, they make sure that they can maximize all their resources. In short, living independently in the US provided them the opportunity to make decisions for themselves, and to value hard work.

Asian students are expected to perform well at colleges and universities, and the trend is expected to continue. Thanks to their motivations and the desire to improve their lives, these students can deliver straight As, and at the same time enjoy their time while studying in these colleges and universities.